The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-15
NATIONAL ANTHEMS.
Origin Of Some Leading Euro
pean Compositions.
Story of the Stirring French
Song, "La MarseillaiSe."

Inc origin OF the British national an
them, says an English paper, has proved |
source of uninterrupted vexation for
many years past. There is almost as
much mystery regarding it as there used
to bo about the source of the Nile. The
common account attributes it to DR..
Bull, King James Us organist, but it
has also been claimed for Henry Carey
the author of "Sally in Our Alley"
Between these two the authorship and
composition almost certainly rest, but it
has been found impossible to decide def
nitely for the one or the other. The
music of "God Save the Queen" is tame
and unintercsting, hut it agrees well
with the comp parativcly peaceful, regular
course of events which has marked pub
lie affairs in England for over 200 years
past.
Not so is the national anthem of
France. There never was a moro rous-
ing composition thaa 'La Marseilaiso."
"The sound of 1T" says Carlyle, "will
make the blood tinglo in mems veins
ard whole armies and assemblages will
sing it with eyes weeping and burning,
with hearts defiant of death and des-
pot" 1t had great share in the first
French revolution, for in few months
after it was made known everyone was
singing it and the words "To armsl
Marchw were resounding in all parts of
France. At every season of disorder
since It's strains have excited the pas.
sions of the people, and if immortality
can be predicted for any tune known to
man this is beyond question the one.
And yet, as the story goes, both words
and music were the production of one
night.
They were composed in 1892 by a
person whom Carlyle calls san inspired
Tyrten colonel" Rouget de L,sle, who
was still living when Carlyle's "French
Revolution" was first published. The
scene of its birth was Strasburg, and not
Marseillaise, but it was force of Mar
seillaise which first marched to it, and
hence the title.
The Russian national anthem, "God
Protect the Gar" was first performed at
the Grand theatre, Moscow, il Decem-
Der, 1888. Previous TO this there had
been no national hymn in Russia, and
the czars usually coutcnted themselves
with our "Gol Save the King" The
composer was Col NJ. Lwof, and in re-
turn for the composition the Car
Nicholas presented him with a gold
snuff box, set with diamonds. The
music Is distinctly national, but the
words, as every one knows, arc any
thing but the actual prayer of the
Russian people; "God Save the Carl
Mighty autocrat! Reign for our glory,
etc. 1t is, properly speaking, an official
hymn, and is unknown to the vast ma
| Jorlty OF Russians.
The Austrian national anthem is we'll
known in England from its use as
hymn tune. 1t was composed by Haydn,
and performed for the first time at the
celebration of the birthday of the EN-
peror Franz at Vienna in 1897. The
lovely air is thoroughly German, and
found thereto already acceptance in
the hearts of the people. Haydn him
self was very fond of it. He used it in
the variations in one of his quartcts, and
when he was dying he insisted on being
taken from bed TO the piano, when he
played the air three times over very
socmnly in the presence Of his weeping
servants.
The Danish national anthem is not un-
like tho "Rule Britannia. 1t was COM
posed by a German named Hartmann,
about the year 1770. The "Siciian
Mariners lIyma," though it can hardly
be called natioaal anthem, is favor
ito air with the gondoliers of Venice,
who sing it frequently.